The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media has said the timeframe for the resumption of festivals and other live entertainment events "remains uncertain" as she described the entertainment sector as "one of the worst affected by the pandemic".
Minister Catherine Martin was speaking after she announced details of measures aimed at supporting the commercial live performance sector cope with the impact of Covid-19.
The measures are aimed at assisting producers, promoters, venues and musicians.
Overall, €50 million has been allotted to the sector, including a €25m fund for a Live Performance Support Scheme, to provide employment for musicians, actors, crew and technicians.
There will also be support for sole traders and music businesses to pay fixed costs, a new capital fund to install recording facilities for live streaming, and a local performance scheme for villages and town centres.
There will also be funding of up to €14m for a new scheme to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses that have been significantly negatively affected by Covid-19 and that do not qualify for other business supports.
The Music Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme will offer flat payments depending on the turnover of the business and self-employed businesses whether sole traders, partnerships and incorporated entities operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector are eligible to apply.
The application for the supports scheme announced today opens on 19 March, and is subsequent to a pilot scheme of €5m which the Minister said supported "thousands of days of employment".
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Minister Martin said "the €25 million live performance support scheme is targeted at venues, producers, promoters of live performances within the cultural sector.
"At only €5 million it provided 1000s of days of employment to hundreds of musicians actors and technicians," she said.
On the issue of outdoor festivals Minister Martin said: "I would love to see festivals and concerts open again for performance and artists but I'm also very aware that promoters and artists involved in the festivals need a lead in period for these types of events."
"But at the same time, for smaller events I have provided €5 million to local authorities for outdoor events this summer. I've also provided €250,000 to each local authority to equip outdoor spaces."
